Recommended Fans page

Want to talk about one of the articles in SPCR? Here's the forum for you.
MikeC
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Recommended Fans page

Post by MikeC » Tue Dec 24, 2002 3:52 pm

In response to requests from many members and visitors, a Recommended Fans page has been started. We'll expand and improve it as we go along. Merry Xmas, everyone!

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Recommended Fans totally updated 26 Sept 2012
Last edited by MikeC on Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:33 am, edited 4 times in total.

ez2remember
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Post by ez2remember » Tue Dec 24, 2002 4:04 pm

Good work, nice to know about other fans apart from the highly recommended Panaflo fans.

:D

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Post by powergyoza » Tue Dec 24, 2002 6:08 pm

I'm glad you've posted the recommended fans page. No more need to tell new silentpc'ers which fans are good & bad. We can just direct them to your page now.

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Kewl beans!

Post by NeilBlanchard » Tue Dec 24, 2002 8:35 pm

I'm glad you have started the recommended fans -- it may not be all scientific and such, but with some feedback and cross referencing of our experiences will very likely be quite accurate and reliable! What it may lack in objective measurements (for now), I think it can make up for with breadth. Things like consistency, longevity, and effectivness when used in actual computer cases. And dBA measurements are pretty hard to rely on all by itself -- the quality of the sound like whooshes, squeals, whines, rumble and clicking would all be missed by a single number!

A couple of specific comments: the list lacks any 120mm fans at all. And for the "interesting" category, I'd certainly like to know more about the NoiseBlocker fans -- if they ever are available on this side of the pond...

I have had pretty good experience (so far) with Antec's "Smart Fans" with their built-in thermisters -- and I really like the idea of having things speed up all on their own when it is required. I run my computer 24/7 and during the day (when I not here as often) things can get pretty warm in the summer, but cool down at night. To have it just speed up the fans on it's own as needed has a lot of appeal. Why is it that these type of fans are not included on the list?

MikeC
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Post by MikeC » Tue Dec 24, 2002 9:11 pm

the list lacks any 120mm fans
Don't have any that I'd really recommend yet -- this is from a sampling of ~6. May play with them more and see if there's one that's worth mentioning.
NoiseBlocker fans
No experience whatsoever.
Smart Fans" with their built-in thermisters
There is one, the JMC. I have a couple of Antec smart fans but don't theink they're quiet enough to belong on the list. Too much bearing chatter. If you really think otherwise, I will play a bit more with them, but that's not my perception so far...

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Post by Asmordean » Tue Dec 24, 2002 10:23 pm

Fantastic ideas.

Now you need to convince fan producers to send you lots of free samples.

About that ticking. THANK YOU! I thought my fans were all failing. I didn't realize that this is normal.

Are you using a sound level meter? If not that then how about setting up a mic to record the noise produced in a standardized location at 12V?

I would also like to see 120, and 173mm fans reviewed.

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Post by Rusty075 » Tue Dec 24, 2002 11:52 pm

Does your sampling of 120's include an L1A? I've been running one for months now, as seen in my Desk PC. At low voltage it's as quiet as a 92mm, yet moves more air. I think the big difference is the fact that the 120 will spin at much lower minimum RPM than the smaller sizes. But get the voltage above 6 or 7v and its louder than the 92's. The tone of the noise is also lower, and for me that's easier to bear than a higher pitched whine. Of course everything's subjective when it comes to matters such as this.

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Post by MikeC » Wed Dec 25, 2002 12:23 am

No other Panaflos in my hands except the 80L. Would like to get my hands on other sizes if they are good; I think it was Jon of Silicon who poopoo'd the 92??

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Post by MikeC » Tue Aug 24, 2004 11:50 pm

Seeing how there are complaints about the Recommended Fan pages, and the lengthy ramp up to the big fan project, I decided it was time for an update. Hope it will hold you all for now. :wink:

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Post by sorenbro » Wed Aug 25, 2004 1:25 am

I can tell you that the Papst 120mm fan that they rate at 26db runs at 1400rpm at 12V and goes down to 650rpm at 5V.

EDIT: The Papst homepage states that it runs at 1600rpm @ 12V
http://62.159.30.76/de/pdf/produkte/4412_FGL.pdf

Maybe just my sample, the ASUS probe og the fancontroller that doesn't provide 12V
Last edited by sorenbro on Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:56 am, edited 1 time in total.

sthayashi
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Post by sthayashi » Wed Aug 25, 2004 8:08 am

YAY!!!!

This update was LONG overdue, but now it's here!!

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Post by Sizzle » Wed Aug 25, 2004 8:29 am

Great. I can't wait for the great Calling All Good Fans testing to be done now.

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Post by acaurora » Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:29 am

One 120mm fan that deserves a spot on there is the Nexus Real Silent Case Fan. It performs similar to the Antec BQE fan (which should go a spot below it in ranking), but quieter.

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Post by MikeC » Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:52 am

acaurora wrote:One 120mm fan that deserves a spot on there is the Nexus Real Silent Case Fan. It performs similar to the Antec BQE fan (which should go a spot below it in ranking), but quieter.
2 things:

1) It's in the list already; gotta get those reading glasses, man! :P

2) The list is NOT any kind of sequential ranking. It ls not ranked at all. Airflow/Noise is the measure by which the fans could be ranked, but even then it could be very difficult. In any case, I do not have that analysis yet.

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Post by pangloss » Wed Aug 25, 2004 12:16 pm

What does "The main price is low airflow" mean? See Notes for the Nexus Real Silent case fan.

Don't you have some self-measured specs on some of these fans? Would be very useful to add a column that has your measurements, even if most of the fans for the time being would have blank entries.

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Post by MikeC » Wed Aug 25, 2004 12:21 pm

pangloss wrote:What does "The main price is low airflow" mean? See Notes for the Nexus Real Silent case fan.

Don't you have some self-measured specs on some of these fans? Would be very useful to add a column that has your measurements, even if most of the fans for the time being would have blank entries.
Main price is low airflow: The price you pay for such low noise.

Measured specs: Nope, it's not ready and misinfo is worse than no info. That will wait till I am 100% confident of results repeatability and interpretation.

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Post by Edward Ng » Wed Aug 25, 2004 1:07 pm

No aluminum Everflows on you, Mike?

Just curious; I hear they're great, and just haven't gotten around to buying one for myself. They're so easy to find, too, as a great many online retailers stock them...

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Post by acaurora » Wed Aug 25, 2004 1:31 pm

MikeC wrote:
acaurora wrote:One 120mm fan that deserves a spot on there is the Nexus Real Silent Case Fan. It performs similar to the Antec BQE fan (which should go a spot below it in ranking), but quieter.
2 things:

1) It's in the list already; gotta get those reading glasses, man! :P

2) The list is NOT any kind of sequential ranking. It ls not ranked at all. Airflow/Noise is the measure by which the fans could be ranked, but even then it could be very difficult. In any case, I do not have that analysis yet.
I didn't visit the page yet - All I saw was a post saying something about 120mm fans not being on there =[ *blames Neil

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Post by sthayashi » Wed Aug 25, 2004 1:49 pm

Just did a quick search on this page. No one has said thank you for the update. THANK YOU, MikeC!!!!

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Post by Likif » Wed Aug 25, 2004 3:35 pm

Yes, thank you, it's much appreciated.

The Nexus fans are lovely, aren't they? ::missing love emoticon::

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Post by acaurora » Wed Aug 25, 2004 3:38 pm

lovely indeed. :lol:

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Post by MonsterMac » Wed Aug 25, 2004 7:50 pm

what about the globe 120mm fan? they are same as acoustifans (at least the 120mm model from mnpctech or wherever else they sell them) and cost about 12 dollars less.

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Post by Edward Ng » Wed Aug 25, 2004 7:57 pm

Well Mike lists a 120mm Globe in the list at the bottom, combined with Enermax. I think he prefers the less rigid plastic used in the black Globes versus the brittle clear plastic of the AF120CT.

Either way, as he said, his list is not in order of preference; it's just a list.

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Post by MonsterMac » Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:17 pm

oops, i completely missed it in there (i thought it would be closer to the top).

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Post by alleycat » Thu Aug 26, 2004 5:33 am

Mike, I'm sure you realise the amount of time/effort/money you have saved the silent PC community with this list (amongst other things). Thank you very much!

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Post by MikeC » Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:23 am

re-- the appreciative comments: You're all welcome. :)

FYI, I made further changes late yesterday, adding more info, tweaking comments and also reformatting the list so that it is easier and more logical to follow.

The link again: Recommended Fans

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Post by Edward Ng » Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:53 am

The new color coordination is shweet, Mike!

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Post by Tibors » Thu Aug 26, 2004 12:49 pm

Looks good. That's definately easier to follow.

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Post by HammerSandwich » Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:37 pm

Good work, Mike. Would asking for more undervolting info be too greedy?

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Post by Bill Owen » Tue Aug 31, 2004 6:12 pm

what about the globe 120mm fan? they are same as acoustifans (at least the 120mm model from mnpctech or wherever else they sell them
I shipped Mike 2, Globes for his evaluation via Airmail today :D

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